In 2015, the global animal health market was worth an estimated $30bn. This new thoroughly revised and updated Animal Pharm Generics report focuses primarily on the European and North American markets that comprise around 67% of the global market for animal health products. Also fully reviewed are the EU and North American veterinary generics markets, with a specific focus on veterinary pharmaceuticals (such as anti-infectives and parasiticides), as well as medicinal feed additives where appropriate.

While medicated feed is cheap, using primarily established active ingredients (AIs) and often antimicrobials produced in bulk as a commodity product, increasing regulation is making this sector less attractive.

Products based on patented AIs are probably worth just 5% of the market, which reflects a lack of innovation, that many AIs are out of patent, and that pioneer companies frequently retain the controlling share.

Because of the huge costs involved, generic biologicals (or biosimilars) will only be open to large players. The high molecular complexity, multifaceted production methods and stability issues, coupled with smaller returns than for human pharmaceuticals, may prove insurmountable for smaller companies.